The Prime Minister of India Shri Jawaharlal Nehru had declared open the entire collection of SalarJung to the public on December 16, 1951.The collection was shifted to its present building in 1968.
Here one can find art works from Oriental as well as Western countries. The Salar Jung Museum has different sections based on the antique value. The first gallery introduces the visitors to the Salar Jung and their times.
The second gallery has major and minor arts of South India, Stone Sculptures, Textiles, Ivory, Metal Ware, Arms and Armor and Indian Miniature Paintings. A separate section for children is on the ground floor.
The textile and costume gallery has some rare exhibits of Mughal Curtains, Kashmiri Shawls and Brocades. The miniature painting gallery abounds with Western, Indian & Mughal miniatures.
The painting gallery possesses the works of famous Raja Ravi Varma, Tagore brothers, Chughtai and contemporary artists of Andhra Pradesh and other parts of India.The Veiled Rebecca carved by the well-known Italian sculptor, Benzoni, is an unsurpassed masterpiece & a major attraction of the museum.
Another remarkable piece is the two sided wooden statue of Mephistopheles and Margaretta symbolizing good and evil. The same log of wood is used to carve two diametrically opposite characters.
The Japanese section exhibits Nikko Furniture, Embroidered Silk Screens, Needlework, Ivory Carvings and Satsuma Ware.
